Reducing waste
Our customers tell us that one of their top concerns is packaging waste; plastic waste, in particular. We are focused on reducing plastic wherever possible, and working towards closing the loop by encouraging recycling through design, technology and clear communication to our customers and suppliers. Over the last five years we have implemented many initiatives to reduce virgin plastic and increase the average recycled content across a range of categories in our own brand products, resulting in a significant total virgin plastic reduction. To achieve our goal of making packaging more sustainable, we’re committed to collaborating with our trading partners, government and industry to reduce waste and transition our business to a circular economy.
On this page:
Making Our Brand packaging better for the environment
We're improving Our Brand packaging by increasing recyclability, switching to recycled materials, and removing problematic plastics.
Understanding what you can recycle at home
Recycling can be tricky, especially with different types of packaging. That's why we've introduced the Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) on Our Brand products. This label makes recycling information easy to understand.
Making Our Brand packaging better for the environment continued
Changes to recycling guidelines
Updated recycling guidelines
In February 2024, the New Zealand Government changed what we can recycle at home. The updated guidelines also will standardise what's recyclable across the country.
Impact on Our Brand packaging
These changes have affected the recycling labels (ARLs) on Our Brand packaging. We're updating our products to align with the new guidance, but it will take some time to complete.
Reducing plastic waste in produce
In June 2023, we stopped using single-use plastic bags for fruits and veggies in our stores. We did this to align ourselves with the New Zealand Government’s plan to remove "problem plastics."
Choose sustainable options
If you need a bag, we offer paper ones as a last resort as they still impact our environment. It's best to bring your reusable bag as an alternative. Remember to recycle paper bags like normal paper.
Balancing sustainability and freshness
We have lots of fruits and veggies without packaging to help reduce waste. In saying that, we also continue to use plastic where appropriate, including to:
- Keep produce fresh longer
- Reduce food waste
- Meet your needs for convenience
- Make shopping easier by differentiating between products, like our Odd Bunch range,
What you can use instead
Use cotton, cloth or mesh produce bags.
Go loose, but put a basket in your trolley to prevent rolling.
Tote bags are totally perfect for produce
Recycling soft plastics
Recycling soft plastics
Since 2016, we've been part of the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme. Through this scheme, we collect soft plastics, like plastic bags and wrappers, and recycle them.
We provide drop-off points in many of our stores for soft plastics, like plastic bags and wrappers. These are collected by the scheme and processed into fence posts and a range of building products.
We’ve been working to expand the scheme and it’s now in more than 120 of our stores. Find a store near you that's part of the program and start recycling today.
Recycling food & drink cartons
Recycling your food & drink cartons
We're excited to be part of the Food and Beverage Carton Recycling Scheme. Through this scheme, you can recycle all your clean food and drink cartons like juice, stock, and milk cartons. Here's how it works:
Recycle: Find a drop off spot near you - make sure they're cleaned and flattened
Process: They’re sent to saveBOARD’s processing facility in Hamilton.
Transform: They're turned into sustainable, low-carbon building supplies.
Find a drop off spot near you.
Disclaimer
Please note Woolworths is not vouching for the accuracy of the third party websites linked from this page.